Pest identification
What's eating my tea tree bonsai?
Scale Insects (Pulvinaria spp. / Coccidae)
Signs: Soft brown or white waxy bumps on stems and branches; plants weaken and produce sticky honeydew with sooty mould coating
Control: Scrape off scales with a soft toothbrush; apply horticultural oil or neem oil spray; repeat every 10–14 days for 3 applications
Spider Mites (Tetranychus urticae)
Signs: Leaves develop pale speckled stippling, turn yellowish, and may drop; fine webbing visible on undersides in warm dry conditions
Control: Increase humidity; spray undersides of foliage with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days; avoid hot dry indoor placement
Aphids (Macrosiphum spp.)
Signs: Clusters of green or black aphids on tender new shoot tips in spring; leaves curl and new growth distorts
Control: Blast off with water spray; treat with insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings outdoors
Keep tea tree bonsai pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Tea Tree Bonsai pests — FAQ
What is eating my tea tree bonsai?
Tea Tree bonsai (Leptospermum scoparium) is susceptible to scale insects, webbing spider mites, and occasionally mealybugs under warm indoor or greenhouse conditions. Kept outdoors in cool climates, it may also attract aphids on new growth. Scale insects are the most commonly reported persistent pest on Leptospermum.
How do I get rid of scale insects (pulvinaria spp. / coccidae) on tea tree bonsai?
Soft brown or white waxy bumps on stems and branches; plants weaken and produce sticky honeydew with sooty mould coating Scrape off scales with a soft toothbrush; apply horticultural oil or neem oil spray; repeat every 10–14 days for 3 applications
How do I get rid of spider mites (tetranychus urticae) on tea tree bonsai?
Leaves develop pale speckled stippling, turn yellowish, and may drop; fine webbing visible on undersides in warm dry conditions Increase humidity; spray undersides of foliage with insecticidal soap or diluted neem oil; repeat every 5–7 days; avoid hot dry indoor placement
How do I get rid of aphids (macrosiphum spp.) on tea tree bonsai?
Clusters of green or black aphids on tender new shoot tips in spring; leaves curl and new growth distorts Blast off with water spray; treat with insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects such as lacewings outdoors